On jobs - 2012 was better than reported

In this Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2012, photo, Norma Urbario, left, and America Rodriguez stand in line, holding their resumes, during the job fair that the Miami Marlins hosted at Marlins Park in Miami. The number of Americans seeking unemployment aid jumped last week, though the increase mostly reflected difficulties the government has seasonally adjusting its numbers. Applications are still at levels signaling modest hiring. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)
— AP

In this Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2012, photo, Norma Urbario, left, and America Rodriguez stand in line, holding their resumes, during the job fair that the Miami Marlins hosted at Marlins Park in Miami. The number of Americans seeking unemployment aid jumped last week, though the increase mostly reflected difficulties the government has seasonally adjusting its numbers. Applications are still at levels signaling modest hiring. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)
/ AP

Yes, the national unemployment rate ticked up to 7.9 percent in January.

But there is some good news on the job front, a report released Friday from Bureau of Labor Statistics shows.

The Labor Department revised the entire year of 2012 to show that employers across the country added 335,000 more jobs than originally reported. That pushed the average payroll jobs added per month up to 182,000 throughout the year, up from the 152,000 originally reported.

Alan Gin, an economist at the University of San Diego, said the revision shows a movement toward a desired 200,000 to 250,000 monthly average, which he said would start to really knock down the unemployment rate.

"The labor market is better at least than we initially thought during the course of the year," Gin said. "The unemployment rate going up could be a misnomer because a lot of times that happens when the economy is picking up again because the discouraged workers start coming back."

In January, the number of discouraged workers - those who stop looking for work because they don't believe they will get a job - fell to 804,000. That's down 255,000 from a year ago.

San Diego's jobless statistics for January will not be released until March 8, the Employment Development Department reports. Its unemployment rate stood at 8.1 percent in December.

Lynn Reaser, chief economist at Point Loma Nazarene University, said the national upward revisions will likely mean the same for California and San Diego. There are still, however, threats to the region - proposed automatic government spending cuts unless Congress and the president can reach a deal, known as sequestration. Plus, the ongoing debate about the debt ceiling can take a toll on companies.

"On balance, while concerns over developments in Washington are certainly weighing on companies, the economy's improving fundamentals appear to be still supporting a gradual improvement in the job market," Reaser said.

In January, employers across the country added 157,000 people to their payrolls. That's a boost from the revised 132,809 added in January 2012, the BLS reported. Retail trade accounted for the biggest gain, with 33,000 new jobs; construction added 28,000, while health care added 23,000.

"These are some of San Diego's key sectors," Reaser said.

The unemployment rate edged up from 7.8 percent in December to 7.9 percent in January. A year ago in January, the jobless rate was at 8.3 percent.